Florida Is the Deadliest State for Cyclists

Seven of the 10 U.S. counties with the highest cyclist fatality rates are located in Florida, new analysis shows.

2 minute read

February 20, 2024, 5:00 AM PST

By Mary Hammon @marykhammon


White bike helmet lies upturned on a road with red bicylce underneath the front of a far in the background.

Kzenon / Adobe Stock

Seventeen cyclists are killed on U.S. roads weekly, but some locales are more dangerous than others for people traveling on two, or sometimes three, wheels. A new analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data by Georgia-based personal injury law firm Bader Scott has pinpointed the deadliest, reports the Guardian: Florida.

The study looked at the number of road crashes that killed pedal cyclists in the country’s 200 most populous counties between 2017 and 2021 and ranked them. Over those five years, those counties accounted for nearly 60 percent of cyclist deaths in the U.S., the study said.

According to the data, seven of the ten deadliest counties—including the top three—were in Florida. The only other states to rank on the list are from Louisiana and California.

  1. Pasco County, Florida: 40 cycling deaths (fatality rate of 7.12 deaths per 100,000 people)
  2. Sarasota County, Florida: 24 deaths (fatality rate of 5.53)
  3. Manatee County, Florida: 21 deaths (fatality rate of 5.24)
  4. East Baton Rouge County, Louisiana: 23 deaths (fatality rate of 5.04)
  5. Pinellas County, Florida: 48 deaths (fatality rate of 5)
  6. Orleans County, Louisiana: 19 deaths (fatality rate of 4.95)
  7. Volusia County, Florida: 27 deaths (fatality rate of 4.88)
  8. San Joaquin County, California: 37 deaths (fatality rate of 4.75)
  9. Marion County, Florida: 17 deaths (fatality rate of 4.52)
  10. Hillsborough, Florida: 66 deaths (fatality rate of 4.52)

The Guardian article points out these deaths are disproportionate to cycling’s modal share (the percentage of travelers using a particular type of transportation), citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which estimates that cycling trips make up only 1 percent of trips in the U.S., yet cyclists make up 2 percent of people who die in car crashes. 

This has prompted cities across the U.S. to adopt Vision Zero plans, including Tampa, Florida (located in Hillsborough county, ranked 10 on the list above). In 2022, in response to its high cyclist fatality rates, the city boosted its Vision Zero effort through “quick build” projects to improve road safety, which they say has successfully resulted in fewer overall traffic deaths, including cyclists.

A recent study in the Journal of Cycling and Micromobility Research also found that higher cyclist and pedestrian fatality rates are directly linked to lack of bike-friendly infrastructure.

Tuesday, February 13, 2024 in The Guardian

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Bird's eye view of manufactured home park.

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing

Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

March 25, 2025 - Shelterforce

U-Haul truck on road with blurred grassy roadside in background.

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?

Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

March 27, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Rusty abandoned oil well and equipment with prickly pear cactus next to it in West Texas.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage

Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

March 31, 2025 - Pennsylvania State University

Aerial view of schoolyard in Oakland, California with newly planted trees, sports courts, and playground equipment.

Greening Oakland’s School Grounds

With help from community partners like the Trust for Public Land, Oakland Unified School District is turning barren, asphalt-covered schoolyards into vibrant, green spaces that support outdoor learning, play, and student well-being.

April 2 - FacilitiesNet

Power lines at golden hour with downtown Los Angeles in far background.

California Governor Suspends CEQA Reviews for Utilities in Fire Areas

Utility restoration efforts in areas affected by the January wildfires in Los Angeles will be exempt from environmental regulations to speed up the rebuilding of essential infrastructure.

April 2 - Los Angeles Times

Green roadside sign with white text reading "Entering Nez Perce Indian Reservation" against grassy field and blue sky.

Native American Communities Prepare to Lead on Environmental Stewardship

In the face of federal threats to public lands and conservation efforts, indigenous groups continue to model nature-centered conservation efforts.

April 2 - The Conversation